Hydraulic control valve



May l5, 1951 c. P. GABRIEL ET AL 2,552,848

HYDRAULIC CONTROL VALVE Filed July 2, 194 2 Sheets-Shee l yMay l5, 1951 c. P. GARIEL ET AL 2,552,848

HYDRAULIC CQNTROL VALVE 74 ggg-Fr ,I 34 w yw eff/fw H1 Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT Marette, Cleyeland,A Ohio, assignorsto The Aro Equipment Coporation, Bryan, Ohio, a corpo"- ration of Ohio Application July 2l 1946, Serial No. 6803916 3 claims. (ol. 251-76) This invention relates to a hydraulic control valve and particularly to a hydraulic control valve for a hydraulic system wherein the pump or pressure converter operates continuously, while the motors, cylinders, et cetera, actuated by the hydraulic system operate intermittently and at will.

Heretofore, in hydraulic systems of this type, it has been customary to allow the pump to operate through a pressure relief valve seti at a pressure in excess of that required to operate the cylinders, uid motors, et cetera. Thus the pump does a considerable amount of Wasted work. In cases Where cylinder operation occurs only a small fraction of pump operating time', gross ineiciency results in the system.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a hydraulic control valve having a by-` pass therein which is utilized before and after use of the cylinders.

It is another object of the invention to pro-A vide a novel hydraulic control valve which is adapted to control the ow of fluid to hydraulically actuated mechanism and` also' to by-pass hydraulic fluid at will, when the fluid system to the hydraulic mechanism is not operating.

It is also an object of the" invention to pro` vide a single pump andV a plurality of the aforesaid control valves for a plurality of hydraulic mechanisms and to manifold the control valves so that only onev pump inlet and one pump outlet are connected to a plurality of valves.

It is a further object of the invention' to con-l siderably reduce the amount oi work done by the pump of a hydraulic system containing intermittently operated hydraulic mechanisms.

It is, furthermore, an object of the invention to provide a hydraulic control valve which is in-A expensive to manufacture and has a minimum number of parts.

It is another object of the invention to" provide a hydraulic control valve having by-pass porting and selective porting for positive operation of hydraulic mechanisms, such as, for exam`` ple, double-acting hydraulic cylinders, both of which porting arrangements are operated by a single control lever, either manually or automatically.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a hydraulic controlv valve of the" type described which contains a spool type valve con-A struction with pressure-balanced action for ease of operation and control.

It is* a further object of the Vinvention td provide a hydraulic controlvalv ofl compact,` stack- 2 `type body construction for operation of a plurality of hydraulic mechanisms by manifoldd control valves,- thus eliminating excessivepipr'ig, connectors, and possible leakage of hydraulic uid.

It is still a further object of the', invention t@ provide integralby-pass porting for a hydraulic control valve which Vis used when the valve is not inf actual operation as a selector valve.` l n It is still another object ofthe invention provide a hydraulic control valve which may be manifolded in as many numbers as desired utilizing only one pair of end blocks for any number of valves.

With these and other objects in View, our invention consists in the construction,- arrangement and combination of the various parts of our device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more f ully set forth, pointed out in our claims andillustrated. in the accompanyingr drawingswherein:

Figure l is ai top plan View of a hydraulic control valve embodying the invention;

Figure 2` is a diagrammatic View of a hydraulic system showinga plurality of the valves shown in Figure 1 manifolded; l

Figure 3 is a vertical sectionalview of the control valve taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1, showing the valve in the position for by-passing hydraulic fluid;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken on line 4l'y of Figs; 1 and 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line v5-i-5 of Figure 11;

Figure 6 is a sectional view ofthe control valve takenv on line 6-'6 of Figure 1;

Figure '7 isa sectional view of the control valve similar to Figure 3 showing the valve spoolin one of its selectorpositions;

Figure 8- is asectional view of the control valve similar to Figures' 1 and 7, showing the valve spool in -another ci itsselector positions;

Figure 9 is a topt plan view of three ofthe valves shown in Fig. 1 manifolded, and Figure 1 0 is a sectional View taken on line' |0--l0` of Figure 9.

Referring specifica y` to thedravvi'ng fori a; cle'- tailedr description oi" the inv' on, and particu-f larly to Figures 1 and' 4 to 8f clusive', nili`ner'l II designates generally a llfyd "lic control va ve having an inlet conditf2 which may be'conl nected to" the outletrf pressure side olip a f il'linlp;` la, Such as shown infFigue 21. conduits' lr arid I5` connect valv'e Iflto doublefacting hydaul cylinder le. The futletofl the valve ll is nected to the inlet side of a pump I3, such as shown in vFigure 2, by a conduit I1. The pressure inlet of the valve is designated at 2I, and the outlet at 22. (See Figure 4.) The connections'from the valve to the conduits I4 and I5 for the cylinder are designated by nmnerals 23 and 24, respectively.

It is obvious thatV a single valve II may be such as a cylinder, or a group of cylinders I6,

Y if it is desired that the hydraulic mechanisms operate simultaneously and in the same direction.

The Valve Il comprises a main substantially rectangular elongated body 'portion 25 having a generally uniform central cylindrical bore 26 extending longitudinally therethrough for the reception of a spool type valve 21. The righthand end of the bore 26 as seen in Figure 3, for example, is enlarged toprovide a recess at 28 forming a shoulder 28, against which a ring 3l sometimes abuts, as shown in Figs.V 3 and 8. The other end of the recess 28 is closed by a cap 32 which forms a shoulder 33 against which a second ring 34 sometimes abuts, as shown in Figures 3 and 7. A coil spring 35 is disposed between the rings 3I and 34 and a recess 36 in cap 32 receives an extension 31 on Valve spool 21 under some conditions, such as shown in Figure'l. The extension 31 is provided with a nut 38 which at times engages ring 34, as shown in Figure 8, to compress spring 35. Likewise, a lshoulder 39 on end of valve spool 21 at times engages ring 3I, as shown in Figure '7, to compress spring 35. The cap 32 is secured to the valve body 25 by any suitable means.A The opposite end of the valve body 25 is cut away, as shown at 4I, and end 42 of valve spool `21 extends into the cut-away portion. A casing 43 is preferably screwed to this portion of the valve body and an operating handle 44 extends through the casing 43being pivotally mounted thereon at `45. The lower end of the handle 44 is provided with forked extremities 45 pivotally engaging a transverse pin 41 on end 42 of valve spool 21. A suitable fluid tightfpacking gland 48 surrounds the end V42 of valve spool 21. The Valve spool 21 is enlarged adjacent its end 42 and also at 5I, 52, 53 and Y54 to snugly t and sliderin the bore 26. The Valve spool`21 is reduced at 55, 56, 51 and 58.

Secured to the central portion of the main body portion 25 at opposite sides thereof, Vpreferably by bolts 59, are by-pass or end blocks 6I and 62, respectively. The inlet and outlet connections 2I and 22, respectively, are contained in the by-pass block 62, as shown in Figure 4.

Assuming that the valve spool 21 is in the position shown in Figure 3, which is the by-pass position, hydraulic fluid from the pump outlet enters the Valve through inlet 2I (Figure l) and is conveyed through a by-pass passage 66 in end or by-pass block 62, then through cross passage 63, through port 64, around reduced porportion 56 through the passage 68. However, it

is obvious that no uid may escape from resere voir 69 when the valve spool 21 is in the position show n in Figure 3. Since no appreciable re- Sieme t9 the flowof fluid, Occurs .in the Ivy-pass 4 passages and ports, the fluid, naturally, follows the course of least resistance.

Assuming now that the valve spool 21 is moved to the position shownV in Figure '1 by moving the handle 44, asV shown in that gure, to the left,

Y the valveV spool 21 is moved to the right and it is rst noted that the large portion 53 of the spool blocks the by-pass port 64, so that no fluid may pass through the by-pass passages to the outlet 22. Fluid under pressure does, however, enter passage 68 and reservoir 69. A port 1I, communicating with a passage 12 and thence with outlet 24, is opened by large portion 52 of the spool 21 and fluid is pumped to the cylinder I6 through-conduit I5 (Figure 2). Fluid is returned from the cylinder I6 throughV conduit I4 to the inlet 23, thence through a passage 13 to port 14, around reduced portion 55 of valve spool 21, thence to a port 15 which is nowrcompletely uncovered. Fluid from the port 15 passes through a diagonal passageway 16 (Figure 5), thence to a cross passageway 11, which connects with passageway 61, which in turn connects to outlet 22.

A port 18 communicating also with passage-k the following manner, thereby reversing the movement of a double acting cylinder I6.

Fluid under pressure enters the same inlet ZI as before and enters pressure reservoir chamber 69 through passage 68. The fluid passes through port 14 into passage 13 and outlet 23 to conduit I4 and returns through conduit I5, it being noted that ports 15 and 64 areblocked by the enlarged portions 5I and 54, respectively, of the valve spool 21. Fluid enters inlet 24 from conduit I5 and passes through conduit 12 Yand port 1 I. Fluid then passes around reduced portion 51 of valve spool 21 and enters port 18, from whence it passes through passage 19,'as shown in Figure l, enters passage 11 and is exhausted to conduit I1 leading to the low pressure side of pump I3 through passage 61 and outlet 22.Y The passages 16 and 19 are identical andY a section taken through passage 19 would be exactly likeFigure 5.

The spring 35 serves `the dual yfunction of balancing the valve spool '21 in the by-passposition shown in Figure 3 and biasing the valve spool toward the by-pass position at other times. When the Valve spool 21'is in the position shown in Figure '1,'the ring 3l compresses spring 35 and tends' to move the Valve spool 21 and handle 44 backto the by-pass position. Likewise, when the valve spool is in the position shown in Figure 8, the ring 34 compresses the spring 35 and tends to move the Valve spool toward the by-pass posi# tion. In both the positions shown in Figures 7 and 8,Y it is, therefore, necessary to hold the handleV 44 in the desired position while operating a cylinder I6.

`Referring now `to Figures 2, 9 and 10 for a Ydescription of the manifolding of a plurality of more, only one by-pass valve block 6I is utilized. While the drawings show three valves manifolded, it will be apparent that any number of valves from two up may be manifolded in the same manner. Obviously, the valve bodies and valve blocks 5I and 62 are held together by any suitable means, such as screws or bolts (not shown).

Liquid from pump I3 is conveyed through conduit I 2 to the valve inlet 2l and then passes through each valve in the same manner as described with respect to Figures 1 and 4 to 8. Since the passages 57 and 68, respectively are always in open communication with each other, ow through each valve to and from conduits I4 and I5 may be controlled by operation of the levers 44, or Icy-passing may be eiiected when all valves are in the neutral position through by-pass passage 66. If the lever 44 is in either the raised or lowered position, the fluid flows through conduits I4 and I5 to and from the respective valve bodies 25 from passages 23, 'I3 and 24, 'I2 to operate respective hydraulic mechanisms in two directions, such as the hydraulic jacks I6.

It will be obvious from the above description and the diagrammatic conduit system of Figure 2 that any one or more Valves may be in the by-pass position Without affecting any other valve. Therefore, the pump I3 is only under load when one or more of the cylinders I6 is to be operated.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of our hydraulic control valve without departing from the real spirit and purpose of our invention, and it is our intention to cover by our claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

We claim as our invention:

1. A fluid ilow valve comprising a valve block having first and second parallel bores therein, an inlet bore extending through said block and intersecting said rst bore at right angles, an outlet bore extending through said block parallel to said inlet bore and intersecting said second bore, a by-pass bore through said block parallel to said inlet bore and intersecting said rst bore, a pair of spaced connecting bores interconnecting said first and second parallel bores, a pair of spaced delivery-return bores extending from the face of said valve block to the rst bore and disposed transversely to the plane of the first bore and the inlet bore, a valve spool in said iirst bore adapted to be reciprocated to three positions, the first position with the by-pass bore unblocked and the deliveryreturn bores blocked, the other two positions with the by-pass bore blocked and the pair of delivery-return bores unblocked and selectively in communication with the inlet bore, al1 of said bores being straight, fluid flow means communicating the inlet bore to the 'oy-pass bore,

means for supplying fluid to the inlet bore and vby-pass bore, fluid iiow means communicating the by-pass bore to the outlet bore, and means for receiving uid from the outlet bore.

2. A valve block as described in claim 1 wherein said fluid flow means communicating the inlet bore to the by-pass bore, and said fluid iiow means communicating the by-pass bore to the outlet bore, comprises a pair of end blocks, the first of said end blocks having an end inlet bore and an end by-pass bore adapted to register with said inlet bore and said by-pass bore in the valve block, and a connecting bore between said end inlet bore and said end by-pass bore, the second of said end blocks having a second end by-pass bore and an end outlet bore adapted to register with said by-pass bore and outlet bore in the valve block, and a connecting bore in said second block between said second end by-pass bore and said end outlet bore.

3. A valve block as described in claim 1 Wherein said fluid flow means communicating the inlet bore to the by-pass bore, said means for supplying fluid to the inlet bore and by-pass bore, said Iiuid flow means communicating the by-pass bore to the outlet bore, and said means for receiving fluid from the outlet bore comprises a pair of end blocks, the first of said end blocks having an end inlet bore and an end by-pass bore adapted to register with said inlet bore and said by-pass lbore in the valve block, and a connecting bore between said end inlet bore and said end by-pass bore, the second of said end blocks having a second end by-pass bore and an end outlet bore adapted to register with said by-pass bore and outlet bore in the valve block, and a connecting bore in said second block between said second end by-pass bore and said end outlet bore, an inlet port in the iirst of said end blocks communicating with the end inlet bore therein and an outlet port in one of said end blocks communicating with the outlet bore.

CHARLES PHILLIP GABRIEL. RALPH THOMAS MARE'ITE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,051,137 Galleher Aug. 18, 1936 2,057,087 De Millar Oct. 13, 1936 2,109,162 Boehle Feb. 22, 1938 2,247,140` Twyman June 24, 1941 2,247,141 Twyman June 24, 1941 2,263,779 Jeffrey Nov. 25, 1941 2,276,357 Vickers Mar. 17, 1942 2,289,567 Berglund July 14, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 548,175 Great Britain Sept. 29, 1942 

